Theoretical study on hybrid desalination system coupled with nano- fl uid solar heater for arid states

This paper introduces a hybrid desalination system coupled with nano-fluid solar heater for small scale needs. The hybrid desalination system consisting of a two stagehumidification–dehumidification unit and single stage flashing evaporation unit (MSH–SSF) configured by a (Al2O3/H2O) nano-fluid solar water heater is tested under the climatological conditions of Tanta city, Egypt. This system was designed and modeled using the finite deferral scheme in quasi-steady-state conditions. The main parameters that have influence on the system productivity are studied such as feed water mass flow rate of SSF unit, feed water mass flow rate of HDH units, cooling water mass flow rate of SSF unit, cooling water mass flow rate of HDH units, air mass flow rate, inlet cooling water temperature and nano-particle volume fraction. The economic analysis was to show both the economic benefits and the feasibility measurement. The results showed that, the considered MSH–SSF desalination system gives daily water production up to 112.5 kg/day. The gained output ratio (GOR) of the system reaches 7.5. The solar water heater efficiency is affected by the nano-particle volume fraction by increasing the freshwater production and decreasing cost. Solar water heater efficiency is about 49.4%. The estimated cost of the generated potable water was 6.43 US$/m3. © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A theoretical investigation was carried out with the objective of studying a hybrid desalination system (MSH–SSF) that consists of two stages of HDH unit and single stage flashing evaporation unit coupled with nano-fluid solar heater. Seven main parameters that have influenced on the system productivity are feed water mass flow rate of SSF unit, feed water mass flow rate of HDH units, cooling water mass flow rate of SSF unit, cooling water mass flow rate of HDH units, air mass flow rate, inlet cooling water temperature and nano-particle volume fraction. The main conclusions are summarized: 1. A significant improvement on the HDH unit and SSF unit productivity can be achieved by hybridization and multi-effect humidification– dehumidification, the daily water production up to 112.5 kg/day. 2. The MSH–SSF hybrid system productivity influenced by heat recovery when using a mixing tank which gives GOR reaches 7.5. 3. The system performance of the unit was affected by the values of the inlet cooling water temperature and feed water mass flow rate. 4. Increasing the cooling water mass flow rate tends to increase the yield of freshwater productivity. The same trend is attained decreasing inlet cooling temperature. 5. The trend of air solar heater collecting area variation showed a pronounced increase in the freshwater productivity than that of the water solar heater collecting area variation. 6. The solar water heater efficiency is affected by the nano-particle volume fraction by increasing the freshwater production and decreasing cost. 7. The estimated cost of the potable water is about 6.43 US$/m3. 8. Solar water heater efficiency is about 49.4%. 9. Specific work consumption of the system is 2.32 kWh/m3.